How to Teach Your Children to Pray (3 Simple Ways to Get Started)

Over the past year, the Lord has been leading me to become more intentional with my parenting. One of the areas I feel called to be more intentional in is teaching my children to pray and building a stronger family prayer life.

Praying with your children is so important. As parents, the Lord calls us to train up our children and guide them in the ways of the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) says:

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

One of the ways that we can train up our children in the ways of the Lord is by teaching them about prayer, the importance of prayer, and how to pray.

Our children need to learn how to communicate with God, and prayer is one of the greatest ways to do just that.

God has given us the responsibility of teaching our children about Him. We are called to teach them who God is, what He has done for us, and that He desires a personal relationship with them.

That is why it is so important that we begin teaching our children God’s Word while they are young.

Now, I am not saying it is too late to start if you have an older child or even a teenager. It is never too late to begin teaching children to pray.

God can move in the heart of a child at any age.

Younger children may be more naturally receptive, but the Lord is faithful to meet our children exactly where they are.

I encourage you to start wherever you are today.

Surrender your children to the Lord because they belong to Him, and ask Him to guide you and show you how to reach your children’s hearts.

When we surrender our children to the One who created them, that is the best service we can ever do for them.

Quick Summary: How to Teach Children to Pray

Teaching children to pray does not have to feel overwhelming. Learning how to teach children to pray begins with helping them understand that prayer is simply talking with God and building a personal relationship with Him.

Whether your children are young, elementary-aged, or teenagers, it is never too late to begin. In this article, you will learn why prayer matters, how to pray with your children, three simple ways to build family prayer habits, and how to encourage your children to develop their own prayer life.

In this article, you will learn:

Why praying with your children is important
How to teach children to pray in everyday moments
Three simple ways to pray together as a family
How to encourage your children to pray for others
How to create a family prayer journal

Why Is It Important to Teach Children to Pray?

As parents, we need to set the example of what a personal relationship with the Lord looks like.

Our children need to see us praying, worshipping, reading the Word, and living out God’s Word in our own lives.

Children learn by watching us.

If we want our children to develop a strong prayer life, they need to see that prayer is an important part of our own lives.

We need to share with them the wonderful ways we experience Christ when we stay connected with Him through prayer.

When our children hear how God has answered prayers, guided us, and strengthened us, it helps them understand that God is personal and that He cares about every detail of their lives.

As parents, we can give them opportunities to pray for others, pray for their family, pray for themselves, and pray about whatever else the Lord places on their hearts.

How Do You Teach Children to Pray?

Many parents wonder how to teach children to pray and where to begin.

The beautiful thing is that prayer does not have to be complicated.

Prayer is simply talking with God.

We can teach our children that they can thank God, ask Him for help, share their worries, praise Him, and pray for others.

They do not need perfect words. They simply need a willing heart.

The more opportunities children have to pray, the more comfortable and confident they become.

Teaching children to pray is not about creating a perfect routine. It is about helping them develop a lifelong relationship with Jesus.

3 Simple Ways to Teach Your Children to Pray

1. Pray Together as a Family

It is so important that you make time for family prayer and pray together as a family.

Praying together in unity is powerful. Lifting each other up in prayer helps us love and appreciate one another more.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20 (ESV):

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Being able to come together and pray for your family’s needs, while also seeing God answer those prayers, is a wonderful testimony.

Your children will see firsthand the Lord working in their own lives and in your family.

These moments of praying as a family create memories and build a foundation of faith.

2. Pray Individually With Each Child

Making time each week to pray individually with each of your children is so important.

By setting this time apart, you are creating memories with them. You are giving them your undivided attention, which is priceless.

This is the time where you will be able to connect with your child in a deeper, more personal way.

During this time, you will be able to hear what is in your child’s heart.

You will learn about their concerns, questions they have been wondering about, and areas where they need encouragement.

It is the perfect time to pray with them about their requests and encourage them to pray for themselves.

It creates a safe place where they can share their hearts and practice praying out loud until they become comfortable praying with others.

3. Pray for Others Together

This is a great opportunity to teach your children that prayer is not only about themselves.

Encourage them to think of other people they can lift up in prayer.

If they are stuck, brainstorm together and write down the names of those they mention.

You can even help them think beyond the people they know personally.

Encourage them to think about:

Friends and family members
Teachers
Neighbors
Church leaders
Missionaries
Those who are sick or hurting
Those in leadership positions
People they see in their community

Talk about how they can pray for people they come in contact with at the library, grocery store, or other places they visit.

They can even pray for a state or country, a group of people, or a specific need they see in the world.

Be creative!

Teaching children to pray for others helps them develop compassion and a heart that reflects Jesus.

How to Keep Track of Family Prayer Requests

I would encourage you to keep a family prayer journal.

The prayer journal does not have to be anything fancy. It can simply be a spiral notebook.

In your journal, write down:

The prayer request
The date you started praying
The date God answered
How God answered the prayer

You can have a family prayer journal, each of your children can have their own prayer journal, and you can also keep another journal for personal prayer requests.

The purpose is to keep a record of all the prayer requests so:

You do not forget what you are praying for.
You can look back and see all that the Lord has done.
It becomes a source of encouragement and a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

The Beautiful Blessing of Teaching Your Children to Pray

As we spend more and more time in prayer, we cannot help but grow in our faith and our relationship with Christ.

One of the greatest blessings as a parent is seeing our children’s faith grow right alongside our own.

There is something beautiful about watching your children learn to trust God, seek Him, and develop their own relationship with Jesus.

Do not worry about praying perfectly.

Simply begin.

Whether your children are young or older, today is a wonderful day to start.

Learning how to teach children to pray is not about having all the right words. It is about faithfully showing them what it looks like to walk with God.

Cherish these moments and enjoy seeing your children’s prayer life and faith grow each year.

Join The Overflow Table

There’s a seat waiting for you at The Overflow Table.

This is a monthly gathering for Christian women who want to cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus, grow in biblical wisdom, hear from the Holy Spirit, and build a life rooted in faith, peace, and purpose.

Join the waitlist today and be among the first to know when the doors open.

Quick Recap: How to Teach Children to Pray

Prayer is simply talking with God.
Children learn about prayer by watching their parents live a prayerful life.
Make family prayer a regular part of your home.
Spend intentional one-on-one time praying with each child.
Encourage your children to pray for others.
Keep a family prayer journal to remember God’s faithfulness.
It is never too late to begin teaching children to pray.
Small, consistent moments of prayer can have an eternal impact on your children’s faith.

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How to Teach Your Children to Pray (3 Simple Ways to Get Started)

Quick Summary: How to Teach Children to Pray

Why Is It Important to Teach Children to Pray?

How Do You Teach Children to Pray?